Factors Leading to the Development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Adult Pakistani Males

Abstract

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the factors associated with development of
COPD among adult Pakistani men of 40 to 70 years of age.
Material & Methods: This case control study was conducted with total sample of 88 males
aged 40 to 70 years old, 44 cases and 44 matched controls with 1:1 ratio. Cases were selected
from the patients admitted in the Pulmonology Department Jinnah Hospital Lahore and controls
from the other departments of the same hospital, during one month period. The data was
collected through questionnaire consisting of variables like age , locality, occupation and smoking
status. The spirometric cut off points (FEV1<80% of predicted and FEV1/FVC ratio <70% of
predicted) were used as diagnostic tool for COPD. Cross tabulation was performed with
dependent variables as presence of COPD and independent variables such as smoking, age,
occupational exposure, locality etc. Multivariate logistic regression model was used with
backward elimination technique for the adjustment of age, locality, income status, occupation,
previous history of disease and smoking status.
Results: Cigarette smoking and age of more than 55 yrs have shown significant relationship with
the development of COPD (p value<0.05). Adjusted odd's ratio was 9.1065 for smoking and
4.2315 for age. Urban residents have a risk of developing COPD 2.14 times more than that of rural
residents.
Conclusion: Cigarette smoking is most important risk factor for development of COPD, so
efforts should be made to control it